Best Hikes & Viewpoints At Fagradalsfjall Volcano Site, Iceland

In 2021 Fagradalsfjall Volcano burst into life, red hot lava spewing from its crater. In August 2022 a new fissure in the Meradalir valley split open and it began erupting again. Here’s how to see it.

On Friday, March 19, 2021, at around 8:45 pm, the volcanic area around Fagradalsfjall in southwest Iceland burst into life.

Molten lava was thrown spectacularly into the air creating a red-yellow sky that could be seen from Reykjavík, 30 miles away.

As the lava cooled, it left behind a volcanic scar sweeping throughout the valley.  

On August 3, 2022, at 1:18 pm Fagradalsfjall Volcano erupted again. A fissure just east of the volcano, in the Meradalir Valley, split open and plumes of molten lava were forced into the air.

Scientists rushed to the eruption site to assess the area and it was declared safe enough to open to visitors on the morning of Tuesday, August, 9.

Erruptions are the site are now relatively frequent. But the site is still a great place to visit with interesting hikes to fantastic viewpoints.

FACTS ABOUT FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO

Fagradalsfjall is a flat-topped, steep-sided volcano in the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of Iceland. It is at the heart of a wider volcanic system (also referred to as Fagradalsfjall) which covers an area 5 kilometres wide and 16 kilometres long.

The volcano was formed in the last ice age but remained dormant for over 800 years until a fissure vent opened in Geldingadalir just to the south of Fagradalsfjall mountain on March 19, 2021.

Magma was thrown into the air and rivers of molten lava flowed round the mountains and through the valleys.

The magma was ejected at over 1,300°C (2372°F) and as it cooled, it left behind a volcanic scar; a sweeping river of black, suspended in place as it settled throughout the valley. On September 18, 2021 the eruption ceased but not for long.

On August 3, 2022, Fagradalsfjall Volcano erupted again. A 300-metre-long fissure opened up in the Meradalir Valley, just east of the previous eruption.

Plumes of molten magma were forced from beneath the ground and new rivers of molten lava flowed down the valley. For a couple of days, the eruption site was checked by scientists then opened to visitors again on the morning of Tuesday, August, 9.

Within days new paths had formed to viewpoints overlooking the eruption site and tours began running to the area.

TOURS TO MERADALIR & FAGRADALSFJALL

Tours to the Meradalir fissure at Fagradalsfjall Volcano are a great way to see the site, especially if you are not driving in Iceland. Most offer a pickup from hotels in Reykjavík and take 6 to 8 hours, including transport to the area and a guided hike to the viewpoint.

GETTING TO THE FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO

If you want to visit Fagradalsfjall Volcano under your own steam it is a 45-minute drive from Keflavik airport or 1 hour from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík.

To get views of the volcano you will need to hike between 30 minutes to 2 hours (each way) on mountain trails to a series of viewpoints.

There are five different viewpoints over Fagradalsfjall Volcano: Stórhóll viewpoint, Meradalir Fissure Viewpoint, Nátthagi viewpoint, Langihryggur viewpoint, and Stóri Hrútur viewpoint.

PARKING AT FAGRADALSJALL

There are two car parks at Fagradalsfjall (open 24 hours a day). Payment is via the Parka.is app via credit or debit card. Cash is not accepted.

If you don’t have service, you can pay for the parking once you get back to your hotel and connect to the WiFI. You have 24 hours to pay for the parking once you leave the site.

PARKING COSTS

VEHICLE	COST
Passenger Car	1,000 ISK
Small Bus	2,000 ISK
Bus	4,000 ISK

PAY FOR PARKING

P1 & P3 – parka.is/pay/geldingadalir

P2 & P4 – parka.is/pay/volcanoskali

HIKES TO THE FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO VIEWPOINTS

There used to be a series of trails marked A, B or C which circumnavigated the Fagradalsfjall Volcano. However, the authorities have now closed these paths and redirected them to a new series of hiking trails around Fagradalsfall.

There are now 5 viewpoints to hike to at Fagradalsfjall, each giving a unique view of the 2021 and 2022 eruption sites.

1 – STÓRHÓLL VIEWPOINT HIKE

Stórhóll viewpoint gets closest to the black volcanic crater of the 2021 eruption at Geldingadalir. The trail to the viewpoint (Route A) passes right next to its cooled black lava flow and the black and yellow sulphurous crater can be seen about a kilometre away.

Below, the black lava field still steams from the residual heat. But to get to see the new eruption site you’ll need to head a bit further.

2 – MERADALIR FISSURE VIEWPOINT HIKE

Meradalir Fissure viewpoint is 3 kilometres past the Stórhóll viewpoint and is the closest viewpoint to the 2022 eruption site. This the viewpoint to go to for the best views of the new eruption, the fissure is only about 500 meters away.

The eruption is changing on an almost daily basis, the best idea of what you can see from here is from the Langhöll webcam which is positioned on the mountain just behind the viewpoint. But standing here and watching the eruption is breathtaking.

A rough route of the new trail to the viewpoint (an extension to Route A) is provided on the map at the end of the post. Being a new route the path is rough and rocky so wear some shoes with a good grip. It takes about 4 hours to make the round trip walk. Adding an hour to take photos, plan on at least 5 hours for the round trip.

3 – NÁTTHAGI VIEWPOINT HIKE

Nátthagi viewpoint is right at the end of the lava flow that was created in the 2021 eruption.

Here you can get up close to the rounded glob of solid black lava at the point where it stopped flowing towards the bottom of the valley. It gives the best impression of how the lava flow solidified and came to a stop.

Although the lava is within touching distance, you are not allowed on the lava as sulphurous gases can still escape.

4 – LANGIHRYGGUR VIEWPOINT HIKE

Langihryggur viewpoint is at the summit of Langihryggur mountain; a dramatic 296-meter-high ridge. It is higher than the previous two viewpoints and offers a tremendous overview of the entire area.

From here you get the best overall impression of the whole site including the path the lava took from the 2021 eruption as it swept over the mountains and down through the valleys.

The 2022 eruption can also be seen from Langihryggur viewpoint although it is about 2.5 kilometres away. To get closer to the Meradalir fissure head further along the ridge to Stóri Hrútur.

5 – STÓRI HRÚTUR VIEWPOINT HIKE

Stóri Hrútur viewpoint is on top of Stóri Hrútur mountain (353 metres) and just over 1 kilometre further along the ridge from Langihryggur.

Higher and with steeper sides, Stóri Hrútur is only 1.5 kilometres away from the 2022 fissure eruption in the Meradalir Valley.

There is a steep and often slippery and tricky zig-zag path heading up its slope. An easier path heads around the base of the mountain staying closer to the 2021 lava flow and giving you a lower view over the new eruption.

Depending on conditions you can choose which route to take from the top of Langihryggur.

MAP | FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO

Below is a map of the five different viewpoints in the Fagradalsfjall area and how to hike to them. The Stórhóll and Meridalir viewpoints are in red, the Nátthagi viewpoint is in black and the Langihryggur viewpoint and Stóri Hrútur viewpoints are in green.

2023 FAGRADALSFJALL VOLCANO HIKE

Hiking to all the different viewpoints would take 6 to 8 hours, so choose which view you want most.

CLOSEST VIEW OF THE NEW ERUPTION SITE

For a close-up view of the new eruption in the Meradalir Valley, park at car park 1 and head to the Meradalir Viewpoint via Stórhóll (marked as Route A). Allow 4 to 5 hours for the return walk and time to take photos of this amazing natural phenomenon. Here are some tips to keep in mind when visiting the eruption site:

• There are no facilities on the hike so take food and snacks with you and go to the WC before heading off.
• The path is rocky and awkward so try to wear shoes with a good grip and (as ever in Iceland) wear waterproofs and warm layers as the weather can change at any time.
• Stay on the marked routes and off the freshly formed lava.
• Police and members of the ICE-SAR are on site offering advice and trying to keep people safe. It’s a great environment but potentially dangerous so please follow their instructions.

BEST OVERALL VANTAGE POINT

If you want to see an overview of the entire Falgradalsfjall area, including the lava flows from 2021, park at car park 2 and start by hiking to Nátthagi viewpoint to get close to the old solid lava flow.

Then turn around and head up to Langihryggur Viewpoint to get an overview of the entire area and see the 2022 eruption from a distance (2.5 kilometres away). Allow 2 hours for the return walk.

From there you can decide whether to continue to Stóri Hrútur which will get you 1.5km from the new Meradalir Valley eruption (add another 1 hour and 30 minutes return) or head back.

WHERE TO STAY?

Fagradalsfjall is just a 45-minute drive from Keflavik airport or 1 hour from Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík. In one of the most popular areas of the country, there are plenty of accommodation options nearby. Here are some suggestions from us.

Read our full guide on the best places to stay in Iceland.

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PLANNING YOUR ICELAND TRIP

Iceland is an excellent destination for semi-adventurous travellers who like to get off the beaten track and immerse themselves in stunning scenery. Here’s some more reading from us to help plan your journey to the land of fire and ice.

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